What are the North American Young Riders' Championships?
The premier equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders, age 14-21.
Young equestrians come from the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the
Caribbean Islands to vie for Championships in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show
jumping, dressage, eventing plus, for the first time in 2008 the western style discipline of
reining. The competition is run under rules of the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale,
the international governing body for equestrian sport) the only FEI championship held in this
country.
Many of North America’s best equestrians got their start at the NAJYRC including Olympic
medalists Greg Best, Karen Lende O'Connor, Chris Kappler and McLain Ward, as well as Alison
Firestone, Nicole Shahinian Simpson, Ray Texel, Chris Pratt, Frankie Chesler, Lisa Carlsen
Lubitz, Harold Chopping, Martina Pracht, Kathleen Raine, Heather Mason, David Wilson, Gwyneth
MacPherson, Tiffani Loudon, Buck Davidson, Abigail Lufkin, Missy Ransehousen, Mara DePuy,
Molly Bliss, and Julie Gomena.
The NAJYRC began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between the United States and Canada. A
dressage championship was added in 1981, and show jumping was added in 1982. The first complete
Young Riders championship was held in British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The Championships were
expanded to officially include a championship division for juniors in 2006. The discipline of
reining was added to the official schedule in 2008.
When and where is this year’s competition?
The 2009 NAJYRC will be held July 21-26 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Horses and
riders have a series of introductory activities, including veterinary inspections, on Tuesday,
July 21. Competitions in all four disciplines run approximately 8.00 am – 4.00 pm Wednesday through
Sunday with Show Jumping taking place under the lights on Friday and Saturday. Please see the
schedule for complete details.
The Kentucky Horse Park plays host to some of the most prestigious events on the calendar
including the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** each April and it will host the 2010 Alltech FEI World
Equestrian Games in September of 2010. All kinds of breed and discipline shows are held
through out the calendar year. For more information about the facility: please see:
www.kyhorsepark.com.
The Kentucky Summer Horse Show will be running concurrently at the Kentucky Horse Park,
some of the country’s best show jumpers will also be competing at the venue. Please see
www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
for more information.
Ways to get involved:
Admission to the event is free; there is a parking fee of $5 at the main gate of the Horse Park.
The Dressage and Show Jumping will be taking place in the Johnson Arena, Reining and a Vaulting
demonstration will be in the brand new indoor arena. Eventing’s cross country will run throughout
the Park, utilizing some of the best turf in the country. Please come out and support the future
of our sport.
Whom should I contact for sponsorhip, advertising or general marketing questions about the event?
For sponsorship information, please contact: USEF Director of Sponsorship and Sales, Scott Carling
at scarling@usef.org.
To buy space in this year’s program, please contact Kim Russell, krussell@usef.org or Crissi
White at cwhite@usef.org.
For general information, please contact Joanie Morris at
jmorris@usef.org or 859.225.2052.